CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 33, No 3, May/June 2022 134 AFRICA and risk factors should first be described in order to accurately interpret the results of such a quantitative functional test. This study represents five-year data of SGP measurements of 432 patients consisting of 239 women (55.3%) and 193 men (44.7%) in a single centre. There was an evident numerical predominance in favour of women. A similar study also revealed a 57% female predominance, and another reported 66%, with a 1:2 (male:female) ratio.5,17 This is thought to be because the risk factors pregnancy and oral contraceptive use occur only in women. Also sedentary lifestyle and obesity are more common risks in women compared to men. These risk factors may have caused women to predominate in these studies. The average age was 45.1 years in this study. Similar studies have demonstrated nearly the same demographics, with an avarage age of 46.0 and 50.6 years, respectively.5,18 Although CVDs are seen in all age groups, it can be deduced that the middle age group is more affected by these diseases. When we examined the location of pathologies in this study, it can seen that the left side was slightly more predominant (52.3%), but the most common site was the right GSV. Similar results are presented in other studies, with a ratio of 71.4 and 55.7% dominancy in left-sided involvement.5,19 Venous outflow (VE, EV4/V), venous reflux (t½) and muscle pump function (RV) measurements were found to be significantly lower in legs with CVD compared to healthy legs. Oedema was detected in 82.4% and skin discolouration in 86.8% of all participants. Another article reported 74% oedema and 43% skin discolouration.5 Such findings are similarly associated with CVD. Results of the SGP measurements performed on the involved extremity were compared according to gender. The values of EV4/V (p = 0.009), RV (p = 0.017) and t½ (p = 0.005) were found to be statistically significantly different between the genders in patients with right-sided pathology. However, only EV4/V (p = 0.020) was found to be significantly different between the genders in patients with left-sided pathology. Results of the SGP measurements performed on the involved extremity were compared according to age group. In general, it was observed that the values of VE, EV4/V, RV and t½ decreased with older age, while the value of V increased with older age. In another study, although no significant difference was found between the genders, similar variables were higher as the age increased.5 A possible reason for this may be atherosclerosis and decrease in valvular function as age increases. SGP measurements performed in the pathological extremity were compared according to onset of disease. All measurement results performed on both extremities showed that there was a statistically significant difference between disease onset and measurement values. In general, as the disease progressed from 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1 – Specificity Diagonal segments are produced by ties. Sensitivity 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0,0 Fig. 8. ROC curve of refilling volume (RV) measurements of left-sided pathology. 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1 – Specificity Diagonal segments are produced by ties. Sensitivity 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0,0 Fig. 9. ROC curve of half refilling time (t½) measurements of right-sided pathology. 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1 – Specificity Diagonal segments are produced by ties. Sensitivity 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0,0 Fig. 10. ROC curve of half refilling time (t½) measurements of left-sided pathology.
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